With a player that’s been as consistently good as Jordan MacIntosh has been his entire career, you start focusing on the new records he sets. And in 2018-19, the Swarm team captain set two big ones.
After going 10-for-19 in the faceoff circle against the Buffalo Bandits on March 9, MacIntosh became the seventh player in NLL history to surpass 1500 regular season faceoff wins.
Two weeks later against the Toronto Rock on March 22, MacIntosh set a new Swarm record for the fastest goal scored in franchise history at nine seconds, breaking the short-lived record Chad Tutton had set the weekend before.
Even with all the history making MacIntosh did this past season, he made even more of an impact on his teammates in his fourth season as the Swarm’s leader.
“Off the floor, he was dialed in and did a great job at managing the guys, especially in the early part of the year, getting the guys together and helping them gel,” Swarm assistant coach Dan Ladouceur said. “There’s no measuring stick for that outside of observations and how it translates on the floor. This is the best year I’ve seen out of him from a leadership role.”
That’s high praise for the eight-year veteran transition player, and he showed those qualities on the floor in numerous ways.
The 29-year-old kicked the year off with two shorthanded goals, helping lead the Swarm to wins against the Black Wolves and Rock. He capped off the season with an angry hat trick against the Wings, including a falling behind-the-back goal on the crease. MacIntosh continued his strong defense alongside Bryan Cole at the top of the penalty kill formation.
He wasn’t afraid to put his body on the line, either, soaking a number of shots throughout the season and taking some rough hits, including an elbowing from Angus Goodleaf who was trying to get back to the net before MacIntosh could and hit him after he got the shot off.
The only thing MacIntosh could have been a better example in? Ragging on his teammates is about the only thing that comes to mind.
Other than that, the Swarm’s captain once again did everything you would want from your leader, embodying the Swarm way every time he stepped on the floor.
Mac Tames Tight Games
Well this is a fun trend. In close Swarm games, MacIntosh played arguably his best lacrosse.
In the first game against the Toronto Rock (12-11 Swarm), MacIntosh netted a shorthanded goal, collected six loose balls, caused two turnovers, and went 10-for-22 in the faceoff circle.
The January 5 game against the Vancouver Warriors (10-8 Swarm), MacIntosh posted two points (1G, 1A) to go with his season-high 14 loose balls. He was also 11-for-20 at the draw.
How about March 15 against the Rochester Knighthawks (15-14 Swarm)? Once again, the Swarm’s captain recorded two points (1G, 1A), came up with nine loose balls, and caused a turnover.
Even in a loss, MacIntosh delivered. When the Swarm took on the Calgary Roughnecks (14-13 Roughnecks), MacIntosh played big with a nine loose ball and two caused turnover night in the close loss.
The Rochester Institute of Technology alum stepped up big when the Swarm needed him to, leading by example in the Swarm’s closest games of the 2018-19 season. It’s something he’s done his whole career, and that quality will continue to serve the team well in 2019-20.
2018-19 Player Capsules:
Bryan Cole
Shayne Jackson
Chad Tutton
Randy Staats
Zed Williams
Jason Noble
Miles Thompson
Adam Wiedemann
Brendan Bomberry
Sting City Memberships for the 2019-20 Swarm season are on sale now. Fans can join the most exclusive lacrosse club in the South by visiting StingCity.com or by calling 844-4-GASWARM.
